Folate status in various pathophysiological conditions.
Folate is the generic term for compounds that have vitamin activity similar to that of pteroylglutamic acid. Folate acts as a coenzyme in several single carbon transfers involved in biosynthesis of purine nucleotides and deoxythymidylic acid essential for DNA and RNA synthesis. In addition, folate provides one-carbon unit for methylation of a wide variety of biological substances including DNA, proteins, phospholipids, and neurotransmitters, thereby regulating their function. Recent epidemiological-clinical and experimental studies suggest the association of folate deficiency with the risk of various cancers, birth defects, and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, it is important to consider the conditions that are associated with altered folate status and their consequences. The impairment in folate status has been found in number of pathophysiological conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, alcoholism, pregnancy, neonatal growth, and during administration of some drugs. The recent advances dealing with mechanistic aspects of impaired folate status in these conditions have been discussed in this review.
Wani
Nissar Ahmad
NA
Department of Biochemistry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India.
Hamid
Abid
A
Kaur
Jyotdeep
J
D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D005492:Folic Acid